asked the Minister of Supply why he has permitted the sale of Service vehicles to the public which cannot be made to conform to the statutory dimensional limitations for vehicles engaged on the carriage of goods in Britain

These vehicles will not necessarily be used on the roads and, in any case, purchasers are under an obligation, and have in every case signed an undertaking to ensure that they comply with the law in every respect. I am unwilling to scrap any vehicle for which there is a demand.

Does the Minister realise that a number of people have; nevertheless, bought these vehicles, assuming they could be used on the roads of Great Britain, and now find they have purchased "white elephants"?

I am sure that the hon. Member will appreciate that many Service vehicles are not suitable, as they stand, for use on the roads, and every purchaser signs an undertaking that he will not put a vehicle on the roads unless it has been made to conform with the law.

asked the Minister of Supply why his instructions, under reference 11/Gen/67, to all manufacturers of housing components and contained in a circular letter, dated 25th October, were cancelled and reimposed by circular letters, dated 14th and 30th November, respectively; and what instructions are now in force.

These instructions were issued in connection with the "Finish the Houses" campaign. On 14th November, manufacturers were notified that, after the end of November, no more requests would be made to them to give special priority to orders under this scheme. Since all the urgent orders were not completed by that time, it was necessary to extend the scheme until the middle of December. Manufacturers will then revert to the normal W.B.A. procedure.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say how he expects manufacturers of mass-produced house fittings to change their production programme three times in five weeks?

This was a rushing of special components, under emergency procedure, in order to finish houses already built up to roof level.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether these houses have, in fact, been finished?

I should have to have notice of that question.

asked the Minister of Supply at what level is our production of machine tools, wood and metal, in comparison with 1938.

In 1946 the value of the average monthly production of metal-working machine tools is approximately three times, and that of wood-working machine tools more than double the prewar figure.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any comparison, in terms of volume?

I am afraid not, because machine tools vary. They cannot be aggregated, except under their values, and it should be remembered that there has been a change in the values of the figures.

asked the Minister of Supply whether any progress has been made in the formation of the Engineering Advisory Council.

Following discussions which I have had with the engineering employers and trade unions, I have decided to set up an Engineering Advisory Council to provide for me, in the discharge of my responsibilities for the engineering industry, a means of consultation with employers and workers in the industry on matters of general concern in the engineering field. Matters normally handled by the joint organisations of employers and trade unions in connection with wages and conditions of employment are excluded. The engineering industries for this purpose will comprise mechanical, electrical and radio engineering but not shipbuilding or the iron and steel industry, which falls within the purview of the Iron and Steel Board. The Council will consist of equal numbers of trade union and employer members with myself as Chairman. The names of members will be announced later.

Arising out of that very satisfactory reply, may I ask my right hon. Friend if he can say when the Council is likely to begin to function?

Early in the New Year.

Can the right hon. Gentleman indicate the advice which the Council is expected to tender, and how often it will meet?

That will be a matter for the Council

asked the Minister of Supply what are his present commitments for the purchase of U.S. aircraft; and when it is expected that the needs of British airlines will be fully met by the British aircraft industry.

Six Boeing Stratocruisers are on order by B.O.A.C. for their North Atlantic service. The British aircraft industry is already meeting the needs of British airlines except in the case of civil aircraft of the largest class. I hope that by 1951 at the latest, it will be meeting this need also.

How does the right hon Gentleman reconcile that statement with the fact that we have no air service between Great Britain and Switzerland? Will he publish, in the OFFICIAL REPORT, details of the up-to-date deliveries of British aircraft of commercial types?

The operation of an airline between this country and another is a matter for my noble Friend the Minister of Civil Aviation.

Is it not a fact that many airlines would be operated now if only a supply of aircraft was available from the right hon. Gentleman's Ministry? How does he reconcile that position with the fact that British airliners are not being operated as they would be operated if aircraft were available?

I am sure the hon. Gentleman appreciates that it takes some years to bring a new aircraft from conception to operation, and that during the years when these machines should have been laid down we were wholly engaged in fighting a war.

asked the Minister of Works if contracts have now been placed with firms of Dutch contractors for the manufacture of steel window frames.

No, Sir.

Does the Minister deny that negotiations have been going on with Dutch constructors for the manufacture of steel windows from steel exported from this country?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Works why there has been approximately 10 weeks' delay in delivering 1,000 feet super clear glass, particulars of which have been sent him, to Messrs. Loxley Building Company, Limited, Orpington, to enable them to complete houses of which the district is in urgent need; and if he will make a statement.

This case was brought to my Department's notice less than a fortnight ago, and I am informed that the glass is now available. An attempt was made to deliver it last week, but there was no one at the site to receive it.

Does the Minister realise that this has been going on for months, and that it is a further example of State control? There are frastation and delay in the erection of these houses, which people cannot go into because there are no windows. This is a very badly bombed area.

:

May I have an answer to my supplementary question, Sir?

The hon. Member's Question related to glass, but his supplementary related to a far wider subject.

But this is a very serious case. People cannot go into the houses unless there is glass in the windows.

The hon. Member's supplementary was not directed to that issue at all.

asked the Minister of Works the number of houses whose construction has been held up by reason of failure of timber supplies.

I regret that there are no available statistics on this point.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the houses that are held up for lack of timber will continue to be held up until the Baltic ports become unfrozen next summer, and allow for the importation of more timber?

It may be that some are held up at the moment through waiting for an allocation which can be made at the beginning of January. The allocations for the present period have run out.

Is it not a fact that all the houses that are held up are really held up for lack of timber?

Does the right hon. Gentleman's reply to the first supplementary question mean that there is timber in this country which is held up merely because his Department will not release it?

That is true.

No, Sir, it means that allocations have been made to cover a period in order that the supplies which are available may be used to the best advantage. When those supplies again become available for the first quarter's allocation for next year some relief may be obtained.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what steps have been taken to use alternative materials in place of timber?

Steps have been taken to bring to the notice of authorities and contractors the materials which can be used as alternatives to timber and, in addition to that, the amount of timber to be used in houses has been cut from two standards to 1.6.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's replies, I beg to give notice that I shall endeavour to raise this matter again on the Adjournment, at the first opportunity.

asked the Minister of Works the rental of 87, Eaton Square, London, F., requisitioned for a civic restaurant; the cost of conversion; the contemplated cost of dilapidations; and how many of the six floors of this house are occupied for the purpose for which it was requisitioned.

No. 87, Eaton Square was requisitioned by the London County Council who, I understand, pay a compensation rental of £325 per annum, to which my Department has contributed £125 per annum in respect of four floors which, until recently, were occupied by the W.V.S. I do not know the cost of the adaptations carried out by the Council, but the cost of the work carried out by my Department was approximately £300. I am not in a position to state the probable cost of dilapidations, as a survey has not been made. The basement, ground and first floors are occupied by the restaurant.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that application was made for an economic rent for this house about six months ago, and that nothing has been done? Is it not a fact that the Minister of Food asked what the cost of conversion would be, to enable him to ascertain what would be a fair price in order to make this house into an economic restaurant?

I have no information about either of those statements.

asked the Minister of Works the name of the individual to whom he referred in a reply on 22nd October in the last Session of Parliament as having satisfied him of being innocent of any contravention of the building regulations in Nazeing parish in the county of Essex.

No, Sir; I see no reason for making public mention of anyone's name in this connection.

Is it not a tact hat all this trouble has arisen because the hon. Member for Epping (Mrs. Manning) made baseless accusations against Major Berry, Chairman of the Conservative Association for that Division? Will the right hon. Gentleman answer that, please?

That is not in line with my information.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that a considerable amount of prefabricated structures intended for new school buildings at Horley have been lying in a field on the site since August; when it is intended to proceed with this work; and why these materials have been dumped in the open for so long a period prior to their erection.

The materials were delivered at an early stage to avoid delay once a contract for erection could be let. The local education authority was unable to give vacant possession of the site until after crops had been harvested. The authority also revised its building requirements, and this called for new plans. Building work is now expected to start next month.

asked the Minister of Works whether the Committee appointed by him in December 1945, to inquire into the financial structure of the cement and ancillary industries, has presented its report; and when this report will be published.

I understand that the Committee's report will be presented early in January, and consideration will then be given to its publication.

asked the Minister of Works why local authorities are not being reimbursed for all the extra clerical work placed on these bodies in connection with the multitude of forms and applications required by his Department

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 4th June this year to the hon. and gallant Member for Eastern Renfrew (Major Lloyd).

asked the Minister of Works what steps he proposes to take to prevent the horticultural industry in the future from bearing a disproportionate share of the decline in glass production caused by the cut in fuel to the glass manufacturers.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that, as a result of the cut in supplies of fuel, horticultural glass production has been reduced so that one of the largest industrial users of glass has had its quota cut by 36 per cent.; if he is aware of the serious effect this will have upon horticultural production in the coming year; and what steps he is taking to restore the position.

For technical and other reasons it is not possible to operate fuel economies uniformly throughout glass production. The production of horticultural glass has not been reduced by more than 10 per cent. and this is not, I think, disproportionate. The main loss of output at present is due to the temporary closure of a unit for repairs which, I understand, will be in production again in a week or so.

If I send the right hon. Gentleman details about one of the largest firms of horticulturists, who have had a 36 per cent. cut, will he pay particular attention to it?

I will look into it.

asked the Minister of Works why, of 15 cases of alleged illegal building work, five of which were not proceeded with, referred to his Department for action by the Stepney Borough Council in June, no decision has yet been taken with regard to the remaining TO cases.

Only one case of alleged illegal building was referred to my Department by the Stepney Borough Council in June. There was difficulty in tracing the builder concerned and the investigation is not yet complete

asked the Undersecretary of State for India, if, during the negotiations concerning the setting up of a new government, he will press for the assumption of liability for the contracts made toy their predecessors and for the meeting of obligations under them in respect of pay, pensions and so forth, for European employees.

All these matters will be dealt with during the negotiations for the Treaty, referred to in paragraph 22 of the Cabinet Mission's Statement of 16th May, which is to provide for certain matters arising out of the transfer of power.

In view of that very vague answer, does the hon. and learned Gentleman think that that will bring much comfort to the thousands of loyal civil servants who have devoted their lives to helping India in the past; and will he make a more definite representation to the Indian Government and country, which he is giving away?

The hon. Member will appreciate that the time for making representations will be when these negotiations take place in connection with the proposed Treaty. That time is not yet.

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman make representations?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British representatives on the Security Council of U.N.O. will be instructed to press for the sending of an international commission to investigate the fighting in Northern Greece.

The British representative on the Security Council already has this proposal in mind.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind the great interest which is taken in this House and throughout the country at the tragic situation in the North of Greece, and will he also bear in mind that many Greeks of all parties are very much puzzled by the behaviour of the British Army in standing by and playing no part, when they are supposed to be there to help to tranquillise Greece?

In reply to the first part of the question, I warmly agree with the hon. Member. The second part raises a different question.

Is it not a fact that an agreement would have been reached for an international fact-finding Commission to be sent to Greece, and that the proposal was vetoed by the Soviet Union?

These things are still to be decided, and our representative is certainly bearing the suggestion of a commission in mind.

We are not, I take it, to assume from the hon. Gentleman's silence on this point that he agrees with the strictures made by the hon. Member for Brentford and Chiswick (Mr. F. Noel-Baker) on our Armed Forces in Greece?

Certainly not

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the total number of Poles now in this country; how many of these are still in uniform; and when he expects the remaining Polish military units and headquarters here to be dispersed.

The total number of Poles, civil and military, in this country is, to the nearest thousand, and including both sexes, 168,000. Of these, 141,000 are still in uniform, but this figure includes those awaiting repatriation as well as those enlisted in the Polish Resettlement Corps who cannot yet for administrative reasons receive civilian clothes. Such Poles are. of course, unarmed and have been demobilised from the Polish armed forces under British command. The remaining Polish military units and headquarters in this country will be dispersed as soon as enlistment into the Polish Resettlement Corps is complete. It is the policy of His Majesty's Government to complete demobilisation of the Polish armed forces as soon as possible.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that not only is there great interest in this country about the presence of these uniformed Poles, but their existence here, and particularly that of the Polish Military Unit, is giving rise to grave misunderstanding in Poland and other parts of Europe?

We are proceeding with demobilisation as quickly as we can.

Is my hon. Friend in a position to say how many Poles there are in Scotland?

Not without notice

May I ask the hon. Member if satisfactory arrangements are being made to reclothe these soldiers in civilian clothes?

Yes, certainly. Those being repatriated are not given civilian clothes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the size of the Bulgarian armed forces.

According to my information the total Bulgarian armed forces amount to 170,000 all ranks. Of these only about 60,000 are in the regular army. The remainder are contained in the Frontier Militia and other branches of the Militia. These bodies, which have been constituted in their present form since the conclusion of the armistice, are fully armed and under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior or of the Directorate of Militia.

Will my hon. Friend say if these figures are in accordance with the Armistice terms agreed by the Bulgarian Government at the time of surrender?

I can say that they are not in agreement with the draft Bulgarian Peace Treaty and will have to be scaled down to come within Article 9 of the Peace Treaty.

Does my hon. Friend realise that since peaceful and progressive Bulgaria has no aggressive designs whatever against any nation, her army has been reduced to a number only sufficient to defend itself from any possible aggressor?

They will have to be reduced still further to come within the draft Treaty next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether translations will be published of important State documents discovered in Germany.

Yes, Sir. Consultations are taking place between the competent British and American authorities.

Does the Minister agree that as many as possible of these documents should be on record in English for the information and guidance of future generations?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the Minister of State recently gave an interview to Dr. Schumacher; what other interviews of this kind have been officially given to political leaders of other parties in the British zone of Germany; and if he is prepared to arrange for official interviews to all such leaders

My right hon. Friend the Minister of State received Dr. Schumacher, just as he has received prominent Social Democrats from other ex-enemy countries. The question of an official interview did not arise. No other political leaders of comparable importance have visited this country from Germany. If they did so the question of an interview would have to be decided on the merits of the case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many King's Medals for gallantry and King's Medals for service have now been awarded to French and Belgian nationals who helped British personnel during the occupation.

The question of publication of the figure of British awards to foreign nationals has been carefully considered anew, but I am satisfied that the disadvantages of publication would outweigh the advantages.

Is the hon. Member aware that this is the fourth time that I have asked this Question over a period of one and a half years, and that we seem to make no headway in the matter? Is he satisfied that all is being done by those responsible to get these French and Belgian nationals the awards for which they have been recommended and which they have earned?

Yes, Sir, and I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that a con- siderable number of awards have been approved since his last and third Question

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who owned the immigrant ship which ran aground on the island of Syrina on the night of 7 to 8th December; what national flag it sailed under; and from what port it embarked.

According to the information so far available, the vessel in question was purchased some months ago by the Greek shipowners Fatsia, who subsequently sold her to a Jewish resident in Athens. This sale, however, does not appear to have been registered. There are conflicting reports about the flag of the vessel. One report states that she sailed under the Panamanian flag, but it appears that the vessel has hitherto been registered under the Greek flag. Investigations on this point continue. The vessel is reported to have embarked Jews at the Yugoslav port of Bakar and to have sailed from there on 26th November.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the dissatisfaction in Aberdeen with the allocation to firms in respect of white fish there; upon what principle are these allocations made; and if he will inquire into and make an early statement on the subject.

Aberdeen merchants are dissatisfied because a group of English buyers who traded at the port during the war still receive an allocation. Allocations at Aberdeen are generally based on 1939 purchases but that for the English group is fixed at 6 per cent. of the allocated fish. This is proportionately less than their purchases before allocation was introduced. These merchants perform a useful function especially in glut periods, and my right hon. Friend is not prepared to withdraw their allocation, although he is willing to consider any new points which may be put to him.

Is the Minister aware that there are serious complaints of unfair discrimination concerning these allocations, and will she look into the matter?

We have looked into it. I am sure my hon. and learned Friend will agree that it is a little difficult to reconcile consumer interests with the merchants' views.

asked the Minister of Food what is his policy with regard to old and new firms in the city of Aberdeen which erect quick-freezing plants for white fish; it he is aware of the confusion existing in this matter; and if he will take steps to resolves the difficulties so as to make as much white fish as possible available to the public.

Allocations of white fish are made to all efficient and conveniently sited quick-freezing plants. This applies to both old established and new plants, and I know of no confusion on the point. The small allocations being made now are designed to encourage the development of quick freezing, which could greatly improve supplies to the public during the winter.

asked the Minister of Food why the divisional food officer at Reading over-rode the decision of the local food committee and revoked the catering licence of the Civil Defence Club, now renamed the Windrush Club.

The licence of the Witney Civil Defence Club was revoked because the club was wound up and the purpose for which the licence was granted no longer existed. An application for a licence by the Windrush Club is now being considered by the deputy divisional food officer. Should a licence be refused, the club has the right to appeal to the headquarters of the Ministry

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that, in fact, the Civil Defence Club merged into the Wind-rush Club and the two have been operating together, and that their application was turned down by the divisional officer at Reading before looking at a copy of the club's rules?

I cannot agree with the hon Member's statement Normally where a club was formed for a wartime purpose, we revoke the licence now the war is over, and ask the club to make a new application. If the hon. Member will look at the membership of this club, he will find it is much wider than the membership that existed during the war.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that much extra work is caused to grocers by the awkward prices of small amounts of rationed goods; that with the present controlled and subsidised prices of butter, margarine, cooking fat and cheese at 1s. 6d., 9d., 9d. and 1s. 1d. per lb., respectively, the weekly rations for one cost 3⅜d., 11/6d, 9/6d. and 1⅝d., totalling 7¼d.; and if he will consider changing the prices to 1s. 8d., 8d., 8d. and 1s., when rations for one would cost 3¾d., 1½d., ½d. and 1½d., also totalling 7¼d.

Although a change in prices in the manner suggested would affect the incidence of subsidies and cause a rise in the cost-of-living index I am having the hon. Member's suggestion investigated and I will let him know the result.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the retail price of cauliflowers has risen by about 133 per cent.; and why he has removed price contol.

My information is that the average retail price of cauliflowers in England and Wales during the past week was less than ¼d. per lb. above the former maximum control price for this period of the year. The price of green vegetables was decontrolled because the prospective supplies were sufficient to avoid the danger of any serious rise of prices.

Is the hon. Lady aware that her information about the average price of cauliflowers, at any rate in my constituency, is absolutely wrong?

I can only tell the hon. Member that we collected information from 1,000 shops.

Will the Minister bear in mind that the price in a London shop is not necessarily reflected in a similar reward to the agricultural worker or the farmer producing the cauliflower?

asked the Minister of Food what is the present price being paid in England for U.S. wheat.

The present cost to the United Kingdom of United States wheat, including insurance and freight from Atlantic ports, is estimated provisionally at about £25 7s. 10d.

In view of the price which is being paid to the United States, would the Minister consider raising that which is being paid to the English farmers so that they may increase their production of food?

The prices are fixed in February, and I would inform the hon. Gentleman, who I know is a practical farmer, that the expenses of the United States farmer are higher than those of the English farmer.

Is the price stated by the hon. Lady per ton or per ounce?

I am sorry, £25 7s. 1od. per ton.

asked the Minister of Food the price paid to Hungary, Yugoslavia and Poland for imported poultry

I regret that under present trading conditions it would be inadvisable to publish these prices.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is yet in a position to make a statement about the future of the bacon ration and about the prospects for our immediate food supplies.

I am sorry to say that, as foreshadowed in my statement of 6th December, the bacon ration will have to be reduced from three to two oz. on 5th January next. This is the effect of the acute world shortage of cereals and can only be remedied as that shortage is overcome.

I have one piece of better news. The non-priority milk allowance to the ordinary consumer, which last Autumn we feared might not be maintained through the winter at even two pints, can be increased from two to two and a half pints on Sunday next, 22nd December. The corresponding increase last winter could not be made till 17th February. I should like to take this opportunity, on behalf, I am sure, of the whole House and the whole country, to thank the British farmers for their wonderful work in milk production which has made this increase possible. But I must add one word of warning. In making the increase eight weeks earlier than last year, we are running the risk that in particular areas, above all, no doubt, in Scotland, there may be difficulties in meeting it in full, especially if we have severe weather. But it did not seem right to delay this relief to the country as a whole because of possible difficulties in individual areas.

Has the Minister been able to consider the possibility of a supplementary allowance of milk for old age pensioners?

We did consider all these possible alternatives, but we thought that an increase of half a pint in the general allowance would be most acceptable.

Is the Minister aware that it is not so much a question of a world shortage of cereals as of a world shortage of dollars, and would it not be better to spend more on food and less on films?

The difficulty of obtaining cereals is one of supply and not of dollars.

Is it not one of dollars as well?

Has the Minister any idea how long the reduction in the bacon ration is likely to continue?

No, Sir, I cannot give any date.

asked the Minister of Food to what industries and in what proportions the 100,000 tons of linseed oil purchased since 2nd November will be allocated

I assume the Question refers to the agreement made with the Argentine Government for 1947. None of the oil concerned has yet been shipped and it is too early to say how it will be allocated

Will the hon. Lady ensure that when the allocation is made a fair share is given to the linoleum industry which, at the moment, is in a very bad state owing to the lack of adequate supplies of linseed oil?

The allocations are not made by my Department but by a Committee representing all Departments, and I am quite sure they will take every industry into consideration.

asked the Minister of Food why, since 1942, grocers must still obtain tea from the same suppliers whether the tea suits them or not.

To allow grocers to change at will their suppliers of tea would make it impossible for wholesalers and packers to maintain a consistent supply of the different varieties and qualities of tea.

Does the Minister realise that in rural areas small grocers are very dissatisfied with this and that they have to stock tea which is not wanted by the public who, unlike people in towns, cannot go round the corner to another grocer?

I realise that the grocers want the best quality tea, but the hon. Member must realise that it also carries the highest profit, which is probably the reason why they want it.

asked the Minister of Food the total tonnage of grain shipped from Pacific Coast ports of Canadian grain for delivery to 'his country during the present crop year.

The total tonnage of Canadian grain shipped to the United Kingdom from the Pacific coast of Canada during the four months August to November, 1946, inclusive was 276,501 tons, made up of 267,412 tons of wheat and 9,089 tons of oats.

Can the Minister state what has been the extra cost to this country in terms of dollars of these shipments from the Pacific instead of from the Atlantic Coast?

That is another question.

Can the Minister say what proportion of the shipments this represents?

Thirty per cent.

asked the Minister of Food why it is the Government policy to import so much of cur meat supplies instead of a larger volume of animal feeding stuffs whereby a greater proportion of our much-needed meat could be produced at home with consequential substantial saving in foreign exchange.

While His Majesty's Government are anxious to produce as much meat as possible in this country, they are unable at present to take further steps in that direction as all supplies of animal feeding stuffs available to us under present I.E.F.C. procedure are being imported

Is the Minister aware that other countries are more fortunate than this country with regard to obtaining animal feeding stuffs at present, and that if this suggestion were adopted the Minister might be able to avoid future cuts in the bacon ration?

Is it right to say that the I.E.F.C. are responsible for this allocation in view of the recent announcement in which the Minister stated that the I.E.F.C. were responsible only for the importation of oil cake?

The I.E.F.C. are certainly responsible for the allocation of protein animal feeding stuffs but they have also designated coarse grains now as human food.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, under the dedication scheme for private woodland owners, he will consider the advisability of instituting a mutual insurance fund against fire damage.

I have considered this matter, and I think at this stage it is best left to individual woodland owners to decide whether they prefer personally to carry the risk of fire or to take out an insurance policy in respect of their dedicated plantations.

Does the Minister realise that if such a scheme had the support of all concerned, it has been esti- mated that only a 1d. per acre premium would be necessary over the whole country?

As I have already said, I think it is a matter for the individual woodland owner at the moment to decide just what he would like. If jointly they made representations, we would be happy to look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the danger from fire, he will take steps by legislation or otherwise to assist private owners under the Woodlands Dedication Scheme to protect these properties from trespass.

No, Sir. Woodland owners already possess legal remedy for the protection of their properties from damage by trespass.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many Servicemen accepted for vocational training in agriculture have been kept waiting for more than two months before being sent to a farm to start their training.

A total of 166, or less than one in 20 of the number placed for 1st January to 18th November this year, waited for more than two months after interview by the selection panel of the county war agricultural executive committee. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and I make every effort to keep the overall waiting period between initial application and final placing as short as possible.

Is there really any need for a waiting period of even two months, because, after all, farmers have expressed their willingness to take these met as soon as they have been approved? Why should there be any delay?

It is very largely a question of accommodation. I can inform the hon. Gentleman that 50 per cent of all the applicants were placed within 14 days and another 27 per cent. within one month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the wastage of food involved, the Agricultural Research Council is making an investigation into the factors responsible for the poor quality of some main-crop potatoes in colour, consistency and taste.

The effect of the conditions under which potatoes are grown on their appearance, consistency and flavour is being investigated at the Long Ashton Research Station of Bristol University and at the Low Temperature Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

As there seem to be so many complaints about potatoes going black, will the Minister see that, before the next growing season, the findings of this investigation are published?

That is exactly what the Long Ashton Research Station are looking into—the question of the blackening of potatoes—and certain information has already been circulated in the "Journal of Agricultural Science" relating to the already known causes of potato blackening.

Will that be made widely known?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the restrictions that have hitherto been imposed on the export of poultry-breeding stock, day-old chicks and hatching eggs to Europe and other countries will be relaxed or removed as a means of re-establishing prewar connections with such countries and to assist breeders at a time when the market for breeding stock is limited in this country owing to the shortage of feeding stuffs for commercial and domestic poultry keepers.

The question of the export of livestock from this country to the Continent of Europe has recently been reviewed, and it has been decided that applications for export licences can be more freely granted in respect of poultry breeding stock, young chicks and hatching eggs, and also of pedigree cattle, sheep and pigs. Exports will not be allowed to an extent which would jeopardise the re-establishment of our own flocks and herds and the future home production of milk, meat and eggs.

Is the Minister aware that this news in respect of poultry will be gratefully received by accredited poultry dealers in particular, and will he give his reply the greatest publicity?

We will do our best.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will reverse the decision of the Derbyshire A.E.C. to give a widow, Mrs. M. Harriman, Walton-on-Trent, a week's notice to quit her allotment, taking into consideration that a week's notice to quit an allotment is not in accordance with the Allotments Act, 1922; that there is no likelihood of a building licence being issued for building on this plot for some time to come; that the land commissioner sanctioned the issue of the notice without seeking the views of of Mrs. Harriman; and that there is much disquiet locally about the way in which the decision to issue the notice was taken.

I have already written to my hon. Friend about this case. The notice to quit was served by the Walton-on-Trent Parish Council, on whose behalf the land had been requisitioned for wartime allotments by the Derbyshire war agricultural executive committee. As the land, which was not being cultivated, has now been released from requisition, I am afraid it is impossible to rescind the notice. I am advised that the provisions of the Allotments Act, 1922, relating to the determination of tenancies do not apply to this case, but there is nothing to prevent Mrs. Harriman asking the owner of the land to allow her to grow crops on it next season, if building is unlikely to take place before the autumn,

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the treatment given this widow by his officers is regarded in the district, and everywhere else, as being thoroughly unsatisfactory?

I am not aware of that.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what proportion of the 1946 harvest in wheat, barley and oats is in stacks which are as yet unthatched; and whether the proportion unthatched is approximately equal in each of these cereals.

An exact reply is not possible; but the information I have been able to collect in the time available indicates that not more than 5 per cent. of existing stacks are still unthatched. This corresponds, of course, to a much smaller percentage of the whole harvest, since much grain has been threshed already. There is little difference between the percentages of wheat, barley and oats.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give approximate tonnage of cereals harvested in England and Wales in 1946; and what proportion of this is unfit for human consumption.